JLK, you certainly have many quality 9MMs to choose from. I have owned a bunch of them and still have quite a few different types of 9MMs that I enjoy owning and shooting. What I found though, is that since i have owned and carried 1911s so much, that I most always shoot the 9MM 1911s better than other non 1911 types of equal quality...ymmv

BTW, I've owned three Kimber 9MMs and a .38 Super, all were reliable from day one, no issues, none of the dreaded MIM parts ever broke,etc. I also have, or have had, good luck with Colt and Dan Wesson 9MM 1911s and the STI versions seem to come highly recommended. Not such good luck with my SA 9MM 1911 as received...

Here is my two cents- only because I have one- EAA Witness Match 9mm. single action, has controls very similar to a 1911 good reviews as a great accurate shooter. And as an added bonus, the current frames which are all the same size can be easily converted to .22lr, 10mm, 38super, 40 and .45acp with the conversion kits here. http://eaacorp.com/conversion-kits/

I just bought a p226. I am really excited to shoot it tomorrow! They seem to get a lot of love, but it feels a little cheap. The hammer seems loose. the slide is tight, but the action is not all that smooth. It is used so maybe it needs some attention. I am a huge fan of 1911 Colts and Springfeild Armory .45s. So I am comparing it to them. I feel my khar is built better. Just my opinoin. I bought it as a pre-ban investment.

For those .45acp 1911 shooters who go to the Dark Side.......many report, subjectively, you aint gonna produce a graph for this one, that the Sig P226s point similary to a 1911 than all other non-1911s do.

If you want to stay with the 1911 platform Sig has a few that come in 9mm. If you want to stay w/that platform but want something smaller Sig's 938 is also a good choice. Either way you can stay within your budget if you shop around. I was told by gun broker I buy from that Sig is bumping their prices after the new year, but I bet you could still have your cake and eat it too if you play your cards right!

If you have the budget, I'd look into the well made SIG P226R or P229R in the SAO format(single action only). These models are safe & work like your other 1911 series SA pistols.

The proven Hi-Power 9x19mm could be good. Browning still sells the Mk-III model. A top pistolsmith like Karl Sokal or Cylinder & Slide in Fremont NE could slick it up,
I like the custom SFS system, but that's my taste.
CF

My suggestion is a CZ Phantom. Best feeling hicap grip I've ever experienced, almost 1911 thin, similar angle but with that wonderful CZ relief for the web between your thumb and index finger. And 19 rounds of 9mm in your grip.

My suggestion is a CZ Phantom. Best feeling hicap grip I've ever experienced, almost 1911 thin, similar angle but with that wonderful CZ relief for the web between your thumb and index finger. And 19 rounds of 9mm in your grip.

Gosh, it's just like a 9mm 1911, only fatter, taller, heavier (loaded), made of plastic, and has a crappy DA/SA trigger .......

__________________
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Gosh, it's just like a 9mm 1911, only fatter, taller, heavier (loaded), made of plastic, and has a crappy DA/SA trigger .......

Um no, it's not heavier or fatter. Mine had a very good trigger pull in DA or SA. But I gotta' give you that plastic one, can't imagine anybody using a polymer framed pistol. Frankly, the way it felt in my hand did remind me of my 1911's - it was intuitively easy to hit with, had a similar "beavertail" type grip and a very narrow slide profile. You might just want to try one.

I LOVE my USP in 9mm. Ultra reliable, durable, and shoots about as straight as they come. They do run a little more, but if you can find a lightly used one like I did, they'll often run at a decent price.

One which I don't think has been mentioned yet is the FN FNX/S. I don't see these guns getting quite as much love as the usual suspects, but I'm not sure why. They've got great capacity, reliability, and accuracy. If you can find an old stock FNP, they're mostly the same pistol as the FNX, just without the same ambidextrous controls and interchangeable backstraps, and they run $100.00 less.

In the spirit of full disclosure I have to admit being a big fan of STI 1911/2011 pistols. I have several in 9mm and they shoot great and are extremely accurate. The weight of an all steel 1911 makes the 9mm a real soft shooter with low felt recoil. I'm sure the same can be said of any Wilson Combat in 9mm also. Outside of the 1911 platform the Sig 226 with the short reset trigger is also very nice and accurate.

Gosh, it's just like a 9mm 1911, only fatter, taller, heavier (loaded), made of plastic, and has a crappy DA/SA trigger

I'm a huge 1911 and Browning Hi Power fan, and have several examples of each.

That being said have you ever shot a CZ-75 variant, especially an SP-01 Shadow or the polymer Phantom? While I prefer the all steel SP-01 Shadow, the Phantom is no slouch. Good trigger, great ergos, reliable, light weight for a full size pistol and very accurate.

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